A potentiometric method was proposed for the determination of rate constants for peroxyl radical generation using the reduced form of the metal in the complex. The kinetics of the thermal decomposition of 2,2′-azobis(2-methylpropionamidine)dihydrochloride was studied. The requirements for an electron donor (reactant) were formulated. The iron(ii) complex with EDTA, the iron(ii) complex with o-phenanthroline, and potassium hexacyanoferrate(ii) were used as reactants. The rate for peroxyl radical generation and the generation rate constant (the latter turned out to be (0.92±0.06)•10–6 s–1) were calculated. The studies were carried out for different temperatures and concentrations of the initiator and complex.